Steam bell-ringer



Patented Apr. 24, 188s.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Ori-TCE.

ENOCH LAWSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STEAM BELL-RINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 276,185, dated April 24, 188,3. I l Application filed February 14, 1883. (No model.) y

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ENOOH LAWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Bell-Ringers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to devices for mechanically ringing bells on locomotive-engines as a substitute for hand-labor, and more particularly to that particular kind or class in which steam is employed as the operating agent.-

My improvements thereon consist in certain novel constructions of parts and mechanism whereby I dispense with all stuffing-boxes and packing of joints and greatly reduce the cost of manufacture of the device, so that, besides being more simple, it is also more durable.

My said invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made by gures and letters throughout the following description.

As I am fully aware that mechanical bellringing devices operated by steam have been constructed and applied to use, and as I do notolaim the general construction and combination of a steam-cylinder and a direct-actin g plunger having connection at one end with the bell-crank and having the other end acted on bythe steam, I shall conne my description simply to the features wherein I claim my improvements lie.

I construct, apply, and operate my improvements substantially as follows:

In the said drawings, Figure 1 shows the connection of the piston orv plunger directly with the bell-crank by means of a flexible connection. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections, showing two positions of plunger and valve. Fig. 4 is a modification of the connection of valve with plunger, and in which a sliding yoke is arranged to receive attachment of the bell-cord or a rod and be operated by the plunger.

A is a small cylinder having a plungerchamber, a, and a smaller valve-chamber, b, situated at the bottom of the larger chamber and forming a continuation on its center line or axis. Small ports d d are formed through the sides of the cylinder at points nearly opposite, and terminatingin the smaller or valve chamber, b. In the body of the cylinder A is also formed a longitudinal exhaust-passage, C, at one side of the plunger-chamber, and connecting at one end with it through the cross passage or outlet c, and at the other end with the end of the valve-chamber. rEhe exhaustport d leads from this passage through the side of the cylinder. The outer ends of the cylinder, through which the chambers a Vb are bored, is closed by a simple screw-plu g, B, having an aperture, b2, for the plunger E to work through. The plunger E has an enlarged end or head, F, forming the piston, in the circumference of which small grooves are turned to receive packing-rin gs.

The valve G is a simple plug litted smoothly into the smaller bore or chamber, b, and having passages that are both supply and exhaust passagesalom gitudinal passage, g', and an intersectin g cross-passage, g. The length ofthe stroke of this valve is adapted to bring this cross-passage into alternate connection with the inlet d and the exhaust d. The throw of the valve is produced directly from the plunger E by the following means: A small cylindrical cavity, h, is made in the head of the plunger,the end of which is fitted with a screwplug, h', and into it is fitted the head t' of a small rod, I. The screw-plug is bored to let the body of the rod pass and work smoothly through; but its head t, being of larger diameter, plays in the cavity h, and is prevented from drawing entirely out by the fixed plug forming a stop to it. The outer end of the rod is screwthreaded to take into a socket, likewise screwthreaded, in the outer end of the valve. The length of the rod Idetermines the movements of the valve and regulates the point at which the supply of steam to the cylinder is cut off, because the outward travel of the'plunger, produced from the pressure behind it, brings the head of the rod I against the stop h at some point in the stroke, and then the valve G is drawn forward out of its chamber by the continued movement of the plunger. The time of this movement of the valve can be advanced or retarded by shortening or lengthening the rod I. The reverse throw of the valve is produced by Contact and pressure of the plungerhead or piston against the head of the valve during the latter part of the return-stroke. The time in which this throw begins is regulated by the projection of the valve into the chamber A. The piston and valve are nicely fitted to the chambers; but ordinary accuracy will insure good action, as the passage C provides escape both from behind the valve and from in front of therpiston for any steam that may collect in such parts of the two chambers. The head of the valve is provided with a V- ange,and a countersunk rim in the end ofthe v chamber b is ground to itit.

ln a modification of this construction, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, I dispense with the-direct connection of valve to piston or plunger, so that the valve is moved by the plunger only in one direction, or at the backward throw of the valve. To throw the valve forward, a sliding yoke, W, is xed in guides w fw, that may be simply slotted lugs cast on the cylinder-body, and the ends y y of the yoke are bent down or at right angles to come in line at one end with the end of the plunger and at the other to project in front of a short rod or pin, J, fixed on the back of the valve and working through the end of the cylinder. l

This pin has a head,j, that serves as a stop to control its movements when struck by the end ofthe yoke. At this end an'eyc, y2, has the bell-cord attached to it, and by the forward throw of the plunger the yoke is drawn forward until the valve-pin J is struck by the end y of the yoke and the valve moved over to open the exhaust. bell then pulls back the yoke W until the plunger is forced into its cylinder against the valve, when the positions are reversed and the valve supplies steam again. In this modification the piston acts directly upon its valve in one direction, but indirectly in the opposite direction. In the construction first given the The momentum of the piston acts directly upon its valve at all times, and this connection does not require an aperture at the back end of the cylinder.

The connection of bell-cord to crank of the bell is made by means of aV slotted plate, Y, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so that lthe bell has a free swing without being retarded by the cord, and the required momen tum does not act upon the plunger too abruptly.

I reserve the right to make separate application for Letters Patent for the modication shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the cylinder A, having the piston and the valve-chambers and the inlet and exhaust ports, and the passage connecting the ends of the two chambers with the exhaust-outlet, of a piston having the valve coupled to it by a valve-rod, the end of which is fixed in and adapted to slide into and out from an aperture in the end of the piston and its piston-rod, substantially as hereinbefore described, to operate as set forth.

2. The combination, with the steam-cylinder A, having the axial chambers for valve and piston, the inlet and exhaust ports, and thelongitudinal exhaust-passage, of' the valve connected to the piston by the valve-rod, and by which it is alternately drawn ont from and thrown into its valve-chamber by the alternate pressure of the end of the piston against the end vprojected into the piston-chamber and the pull oi the piston on the valve-rod, substantially as described.

ENOGH LANVSON. [1..

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, F. M. DOWNEY. 

